“LOOK AT THE MAP”
Lord Derby, Director of Recruiting, on Tuesday further outlined his recruiting scheme in an address to mayors, chairmen of Urban District Councils, and Parliamentary agents at the Mansion House, London .
Briefly the main features of the scheme as suggested by his lordship are as follow : —
Men who enlist will be divided into 46 groups, the unmarried men into the first 23 groups, according to age, and the married into the next 23 groups, also according to age. The latter will not be called upon until all the unmarried groups have been exhausted.
Single men may be put in a later class and only called up when necessity arises in cases where they provide a valid reason, as, for instance, that they are the sole support of their mothers. They will, however, be asked to undertake voluntary drill, in case of emergency.
Men are needed principally for the infantry. Preference for the Army Service Corps and the Royal Army Medical Corps will be given to married men.
In the course of his speech, Lord Derby, answering those who are seeking information as to the position, said: “Look at the map! That would show the position. Look where we were now; look where we were a year ago.
Was not that information enough to show the gravity of the situation? We were hearing of victories here and victories there, but to all of those he said: “Look at the map! That seemed to him sufficient answer to those who were clamouring for more information.
“I say this,” said Lord Derby, “in no spirit of pessimism. I am perfectly certain the end will come right, but the end will come sooner, and the end will be more satisfactory if every man in this country recognises that a position of the Empire's duty rests upon his own shoulders.” (Cheers).
His Lordship concluded with the significant statement: “This is the last effort on behalf of voluntary service. It is not the effort of an individual, but of a body of men representing all shades of politics and classes. It is an appeal which, I hope and believe will not be made in vain. It ……………………… END
